I think the comparison to CCG/deckbuilding games is definitely a string that should continue to be pulled. Those games work because they have a catalogue of mechanics that are relatively nonspecific and modular. You can staple Flying, Fear, and Trample onto a creature in MtG and it will feel significantly different than an identical creature except it only has Fear and Trample. If you had a theoretical DnD game with the same breadth of feats and spell options but removed the feat taxes and upgrade chains you could probably approach the same kind of satisfying exploration of mechanics.
What systems nicely handle more in depth, "complex" rules?
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